We discovered some surprising kitchen hotspots where germs love to hang out, so we share what we learned and simple steps to keep things cleaner. We also explain why we stopped using meal delivery kits and found a better, more practical solution for our family. Plus, we talk about making home shopping less stressful and more efficient, how our yard finally recovered from deer damage, and what new face tool Sherry can’t stop using.
What’s New
- Back in Episode #66 we tried several meal delivery kits. Our overall pick at the time was HelloFresh—the meals were tasty, straightforward, and reasonably priced. Since then we also sampled a Home Chef grocery-store single-box meal to compare. (No sponsorships here—we buy these ourselves to figure out what works for our routines.)
- Last year’s landscaping fiasco is covered in Episode #99, when deer repeatedly stripped new plant growth. You can see the damage in the photos we took back then.
- After many faithful applications of Liquid Fence over the past year (we discuss this in Episode #105), our cherry and ginkgo trees recovered nicely. It can be hard to appreciate in photos, but they came back healthier and fuller than before.
What’s Not Game
- We based a quick kitchen-cleaning game on a Real Simple piece titled The Five Germiest Places In Your Kitchen Aren’t What You Think (Plus How To Clean Them).
- That article references a 2013 NSF study, while an earlier 2011 NSF report suggested cutting boards can actually have relatively low germ concentrations when properly maintained. The takeaway: some common assumptions about kitchen germs don’t always match the data, and sensible cleaning habits go a long way.
Listener Question
- When shopping for the “perfect” item for your home—whether it’s a light fixture, sofa, table, basket, or tile—our advice is to be patient and wait for something you truly love rather than settling for “good enough.” That said, there are smart ways to bridge the gap while you search.
- In Episode #130 we suggested using a temporary, inexpensive secondhand piece as a placeholder. It gives you a usable solution without rushing into a long-term decision, and you can often resell that temporary item later so it won’t cost much.
- To speed up the hunt, we use Google’s Shopping tab more often because it lets you scan many retailers at once. It’s not perfect, but it saves time compared with opening multiple site-specific searches. Retailers like Overstock and Wayfair are useful when you want a broad selection in one place, though they won’t include brands like Pottery Barn, Target, Crate & Barrel, or West Elm—again, that’s where the Shopping tab is handy.
We’re Digging
- We’ve been enjoying Highlights Magazine for our son and the preschool version Highlights High Five. The subscription costs more than our initial guess—closer to $35/year—but it’s become a favorite and we bought one as a gift for our 4-year-old nephew after recording.
- Our kids also love the specialty Hidden Pictures books. We have the Pet Puzzles edition and have also seen Adventure Puzzles, Playtime Puzzles, and Barnyard Puzzles, which are great for quiet, focused screen-free time.
- Sherry’s current favorite skincare tool is an ice roller. She pulls it from the freezer for mornings when she feels extra puffy or didn’t sleep well. It’s a colder, more soothing alternative to her jade roller.
If you want to revisit things we’ve recommended in past episodes, check our master list of dug items and our Book Club page for every book we’ve suggested.
A quick thank-you to Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. They offered a Memorial Day discount (15% off sitewide at the time) and an ongoing $200-off code YHL for hybrid mattresses. We appreciate sponsors who help support the show and keep things running.
Thanks for listening and reading—hope these updates and tips help simplify your routines and save you time.
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